Combination aerator and drinking fountain



Get. 13 1970.

P. A. MON-GERSCN 3,533,554

CQMBINATION AERATOR AND DRINKING FOUNTAIN Filed June 24, 1968 N r 1 w Iv ,5;

MM/Waz W4///%//W5 WM7 5% Wm [far/W United States Ptt 3,533,554COMBINATION AERATOR AND DRINKING FOUNTAIN Paul A. Mongerson, Elyria,Ohio, assignor to Standard Screw Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporationof New Jersey Filed June 24, 1968, Ser. No. 739,260 Int. Cl. E03b 9/00US. Cl. 239-27 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combinationaerator and drinking fountain for attachment to a water faucet. The unitincludes a generally cylindrical housing containing conventionalaerating means. Rotatably mounted on the housing is a drinking fountainattachement having an upwardly directed water passage. There is a waterport in the side of the housing which is aligned with the water passagewhen the device is to be used as a drinking fountain. Rotation of thedrinking fountain attachment positions the drinking water passage aswell as providing on-off control. In addition, within the cylindricalhousing, are means for reducing the water pressure applied to theupwardly directed drinking water passage for controlling the pressure ofa water discharged for drinking purposes. The water fountain attachmenthas two outlets, which, through reversal of a rotatable member, enablethe user to have a choice as to the angle of the water discharge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combination aeratorand drinking fountain attachement for a water faucet.

A primary purpose of the invention is a simply constructed, reliablyoperable unit of the type described.

Another purpose is a combination aerator and drinking fountainattachement including means for reducing the water pressure supplied fordrinking purposes.

Another purpose is a unit of the type described including means forpreventing contamination of the drinking fountain water passage.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the unit disclosed herein, inthe drinking position,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration, similar to FIG. 1, but showingthe unit in the non-drinking position,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the unit illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the unit disclosed hereinin the drinking position, and

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section, similar to FIG. 4, showing amodified unit in the non-drinking positon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 a typical faucet isindicated at 10, with the combination aerator and drinking fountainbeing indicated generally at 12. As will be noted by the water dischargeindicated at 14, the device of FIG. 1 is in the drinking position. InFIG. 2 the same device is illustrated in the non-drinking position. Notethat the handle portion of the unit 12 has been rotated approximately180 degrees so that the water discharge port now underlies the faucetspout 10. In this way, the drinking water passage will be masked by thespout to prevent its contamination.

Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the unit 10 may include a generallycylindrical housing 16 having interior 18 at its upper end for use inattachment to the water faucet spout. In some applications there may beexterior threads on the housing for attachment purposes. In others, anadapter may be used to mount the unit 10. The invention should not belimited to any particular mounting means.

At the lower end of the housing 16 is an annular member '22 having aplurality of longitudinal grooves 24, which are effective to bring airupwardly for mixing with the downwardly discharging water stream. Theannular member 22 may seat upon a conical shoulder 26 formed at thelower end of the housing 16. The member 22 has an inwardly directedflange 28 which mounts a conventional aerator screen 30. There are aplurality of ports or passages 32 in the member 22, which are incommunication with the grooves 24 for use in directing air into thecentral area of the housing. The upper end of the annular member 22mounts a water dirtribution member 34. As shown herein, the member 34includes a lower ball-like section 36 and an upper plate-like member 38.The platelike member 38 may have a plurality of water passages or ports'40 which direct the downwardly moving water onto the ball member whereit is broken up into minute sprays for subsequent passage through thescreen 30 as an aerated discharge. The air from passages 24 mixes withthe water below ports 40 to form the aerated stream.

Positioned above and mounted on top of the annular member 22 is araceway 42 which is generally U-shaped in cross section and which formsan annular water passage 44 in cooperation with the inside wall of thehousing 16. There is a small opening 46 in the raceway so that water maypass from the interior of the housing into the passage 44. A dischargeport 48 is formed in the wall of the housing 16 and may be surrounded byan O-ring or conventional seal 50. The outer portion of the port 48 maybe enlarged for seating the *O-ring 50.

A rotatable member 52 is mounted on the exterior of the housing 16 andretained in position by a shoulder 54 formed at the lower end of thehousing. A snap ring 20, at the upper end of the housing 16, preventsremoval of the member 52. As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the rotatablemember 52 has an enlarged handle-like section which can be manipulatedfor moving the member 52 to either a drinking or non-drinking position.There are a pair of water passages 56 and 58 formed in the member 52 foruse in directing water upwardly for drinking purposes. It should benoted that passage 56 forms a slightly different angle with the surfaceof the member 52 than passage 58. By reversing member 52, the user hasthe option of a water discharge at different angles.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of the invention. A rotatable member62 has a single upwardly-directed water passage 64. Theupwardly-directed air passages 24 have been replaced by a plurality ofcircumferentially extending slots 66 which provide side air entry. Thespace 68 between the handle 62 and housing 54 provides air access toslots 66. The slots 66 are in communication with ports or passages 32for bringing air into the central area of the housing. In all otherrespects the devices of FIGS. 4 and 5 are the same.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows:

In the closed or non-drinking position, all of the water flowingdirectly downwardly through the housing 16 will strike the ball member,be formed into minute sprays, and will then pass through the dischargescreen 30. As the water moves downwardly through the housing, air willbe drawn up passages 24, through ports 32 and will mix with the spray toform an aerated water discharge. At all times, there will be an aerateddischarge. Also, water will always flow through the opening 46 into theraceway or chamber 44. However, in the closed position, no water willpass beyond port 48, inasmuch as passage 56 and port 48 are not inalignment. Seal ring 50 forms a complete seal between the rotatablemember 52 and the surface of the housing 16.

When it is desired to place the unit in the drinking position, thehandle 52 is rotated until passage 56 is in alignment with port 48. Atthat time, the water within the chamber 44 will pass through passage 56to form an upwardly-directed water discharge for drinking purposes.Water will continuously pass thereafter through the opening 46, intochamber 44, through port 48 and into passage 56, thus continuing thewater discharge. At such time as the drinking portion of the unit is nolonger to be used, the handle 52 again may be rotated to a non-drinkingposition, which is preferably beneath the spout for sanitary purposes.There is ample clearance between the top of member 52 and the undersideof the spout.

The devices of FIGS. 4 and 5 operate in the same manner, except for thedifference in aerating air passages.

Of importance is the fact that the opening 46 is generallydiammetrically opposed, or 180 degrees spaced from, the port 48. Spacingbetween approximately 60 to 180 degrees can be utilized. Also, opening46 is smaller in cross section than port 48. In this way, there will bea reduction in pressure and velocity as water flows through the chamber44. In some applications the raceway 42 may be formed of a flexiblematerial so that opening 46 will close under pressure.

The various parts of the assembly may be made of I metal, certain typesof plastics, and in some instances an elastomeric material, such asrubber. The invention should not be limited to a construction of anyparticular material. In like manner, the invention should not be limitedto the specific embodiment shown.

To reverse member 52 to have a different angle of water discharge, snapring is removed, and member 52 is turned over. The snap ring can then bereplaced and the unit again attached to a faucet spout.

The unit disclosed herein is usable with any faucet, for example a basinor lavatory faucet, as well as a kitchen faucet. In this connection, theparticular discharge passage used may depend upon the area ofapplication. Whereas one angle of water discharge may be suitable for akitchen installation, a different angle of discharge may be suitable fora bathroom faucet.

I claim:

1. In a combination aerator and drinking fountain attachment for afaucet, a generally cylindrical housing, mounting means at one end ofsaid housing, means, within said housing, for forming an aerateddischarge from the other end of said housing, a laterally directed waterport in said housing, rotatable means mounted on said housing having anupwardly directed water passage, an annular raceway within said housingand masking said port, said raceway cooperating with said housing todefine an annular water passage in communication with said port, and anopening in said raceway communicating with the interior of said housing,said rotatable means being movable to an on position, in which theupwardly directed water passage is in alignment with said port fordirecting water upwardly for drinking purposes, and an off. position inwhich said port and water passage are not in alignment.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said rotatablemeans is shaped like and functions as a handle.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said racewayopening is substantially circumferentially spaced from said port.

4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that said racewayopening is circumferentially spaced, between approximately and degrees,from the housing port, to permit the water flowing in said raceway todecrease in velocity prior to passing through said housing port.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and includingsealing means surrounding said housing port and bearing against saidrotatable means.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including anoutwardly directed shoulder on said housing, said rotatable means beingseated on said shoulder.

7. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by means, within thehousing, for reducing the water pressure supplied to said water passage.

8. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the means forforming an aerated discharge include at least one laterally directedopening in said housing.

9. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the means forforming an aerated discharge include a. plurality of upwardly extendingair passages within said housing.

10. In a drinking fountain attachment for a faucet, a generallycylindrical housing, mounting means at one end of said housing, means,within said housing, for forming a water discharge from the other end ofsaid housing, a laterally directed water port in said housing, rotatablemeans mounted on said housing having a pair of water passages extendingin opposite directions, said Water passages each being arranged toprovide different angles of water flow, with only one of said waterpassages being usable at a time, said rotatable means being movable toan on position, in which one of said upwardly directed water passages isin alignment with said port for directing water upwardly for drinkingpurposes, and an elf position in which said port and one of said waterpassages are not in alignment.

11. In a drinking fountain attachment for a faucet, a generallycylindrical housing, mounting means at one end of said housing, means,within said housing, for forming a water discharge from the other end ofsaid housing, a laterally directed water port in said housing, rotatablemeans mounted on said housing having an upwardly directed water passage,and means, within the housing, for reducing the water pressure suppliedto said laterally directed water port, including a conduit communicatingwith the interior of said housing and said port, said conduit includinga portion having a cross sectional area less than that of said port,said rotatable means being movable to an on position, in which theupwardly directed water passage is in alignment with said port fordirecting water upwardly for drinking purposes, and an off position inwhich said port and water passage are not in alignment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,387,718 8/1921 Hollaender 239253,079,088 2/1963 Hermann et al 23925 3,424,387 1/1969 Aghnides 239428.5

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

M. Y. MAR, Ascsistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

